Coyotes sometimes wander into Maine yards, and knowing how to deal with them keeps both you and wildlife safe. A few smart strategies can keep these clever visitors at a respectful distance.
Avoiding common mistakes makes encounters less stressful. Handling coyotes correctly protects your garden, pets, and peace of mind.
1. Make Yourself Loud and Large
Coyotes naturally fear humans, but they need reminders to keep their distance. Stand tall, wave your arms above your head, and make yourself appear as big as possible.
Shout firmly and clap your hands to create intimidating noise. Many Maine residents find that banging pots together works incredibly well.
Keep moving toward the coyote while making noise until it retreats. Never turn your back or run away, as this triggers their chase instinct and makes the situation more dangerous for everyone involved.
2. Secure Your Trash and Food Sources
Food attracts coyotes faster than almost anything else. Store garbage in heavy-duty bins with locking lids that animals cannot tip over or pry open.
Bring pet food bowls inside immediately after your dog or cat finishes eating. Clean up fallen fruit from trees and secure compost piles with proper fencing.
Bird feeders also draw coyotes because they attract small animals that coyotes hunt. Maine homeowners who eliminate food sources see fewer coyote visits over time, creating safer yards naturally.
3. Install Motion-Activated Lights and Sprinklers
Coyotes prefer hunting and moving around under cover of darkness. Bright, sudden lights startle them and make your property feel unsafe for nighttime visits.
Motion-activated sprinklers add another layer of surprise that coyotes dislike intensely. Position these devices around areas where you’ve spotted coyote activity or tracks.
Many Maine families report excellent results combining both systems. The investment pays off quickly when coyotes start avoiding your yard entirely, choosing easier routes through the neighborhood instead of your property.
4. Keep Pets Supervised and Leashed
Small dogs and cats look like prey to hungry coyotes, especially during dawn and dusk hours. Always supervise pets when they’re outside, even in fenced yards.
Use a short leash during walks and stay alert in wooded areas. Coyotes in Maine have grown bolder in recent years, sometimes approaching pets even when owners are nearby.
Build a secure fence at least six feet tall, as coyotes can jump surprisingly high. Check regularly for digging spots underneath where determined animals might tunnel through overnight.
5. Remove Shelter and Hiding Spots
Coyotes feel comfortable in yards with thick brush, woodpiles, and overgrown vegetation where they can hide. Trim bushes and keep grass cut short to eliminate cover.
Close off spaces under decks, sheds, and porches with sturdy lattice or hardware cloth. Clear away brush piles and stack firewood away from the house.
Open, well-maintained yards in Maine discourage coyotes from settling nearby. When they cannot find shelter, they move along to areas offering better protection and easier access to den sites.
6. Never Feed or Approach Coyotes
Feeding coyotes destroys their natural fear of humans and creates dangerous situations. Some people mistakenly think offering food helps wildlife, but it actually harms everyone.
Fed coyotes become bold, approaching homes and people expecting meals. They may act aggressively when food isn’t provided or when protecting their new food source.
Maine wildlife officials stress that habituated coyotes often must be removed because they pose serious risks. Keeping wild animals wild protects both human communities and the coyotes themselves from harmful conflicts.
7. Don’t Let Small Children Play Outside Alone
Young children playing alone can attract curious coyotes, especially in areas where these animals have lost their fear of humans. Always supervise kids during outdoor playtime.
Teach children what to do if they see a coyote: stay together, back away slowly, and call for adults immediately. Practice making loud noises together so kids feel confident.
Maine parents find that establishing firm outdoor rules prevents scary encounters. Children under ten should never play outside unsupervised in areas with known coyote activity, particularly during early morning or evening hours.
8. Avoid Leaving Attractants Out Overnight
Grills with food residue, pet toys, and even certain scented items can attract coyotes after dark. Clean grills thoroughly after cooking and store them properly.
Bring pet toys, water bowls, and outdoor furniture cushions inside each evening. Coyotes investigate anything with interesting smells, including items marked with pet scent.
Maine homeowners who practice nightly yard cleanup notice fewer wildlife visits overall. A clean, unappealing yard sends a clear message that nothing interesting or edible exists here, encouraging coyotes to hunt elsewhere naturally.